2 



TO ZOOLOGISTS. 



convenient, my species in small natural gronpes, and by confining each plate 

 as much as possible to the representation of species that are nearly allied 

 to each other. Such a mode of proceeding, like that of Dr. Smith, will 

 allow of the work, when concluded, being bound up according to that system 

 of arrangement which may appear to the reader most advisable to follow. 



I could wish that it had been in my power to describe these insects 

 according to the general plan commenced in the Annulosa Javanica. Several 

 circumstances, however, prevent such a scheme being followed, among 

 which is the necessity in a work of this kind of each number possessing 

 considerable variety. But although I am about to describe the Annulosa of 

 South Africa in a miscellaneous order, I trust no one will detect symptoms 

 of my being tormented by that morbid thirst for naming new species 

 which makes so many modern works in entomology, rather magazines of 

 undigested and insulated facts than harmonious histories of nature. It is 

 really distressing to see the philosophy of our science lost sight of in a 

 puling passion for that miserable immortality which is made to depend on 

 the invention of some barbarous technical names. We cannot even say 

 that the best entomologists are free from it, when we find the laborious 

 author of the *' Genera Curculionidum,'' whose fame has arisen from his 

 study of nomenclature, shewing utter contempt of its laws. The pre- 

 servation of the earliest name is a duty not so much to the name as to 

 the science ; yet M. Schonherr has in 1833, attempted to alter the names 

 of many genera published in 1825 in the appendix to Captain King's voyage. 

 I shall not follow so mischievous an example; but as far as my humble 

 means will allow, I shall endeavour to be rigorously observant of that 

 leading principle of nomenclature which is the right of priority. This right, 

 in my opinion, is so necessary to be sustained, if we have any regard for the 

 interests of natural history, that I shall never for one moment wait to 

 consider whether the first namer of a species be an author of reputation 

 or not. 



W. S. M'L. 



